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November 03, 2007

The fall of 2007 marked the 15 year anniversary of The Fab Five's arrival on University of Michigan's campus. So Jalen Rose bought a billboard an hour away from Ann Arbor in Detroit, at 7 Mile and South Lodge near the childhood homes of himself and UM teammate Chris Webber. And this caused a stir.

For those of you who lived in a cave during the early 90s, I think it's very safe to say that The Fab Five (aka Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson- yes I can name them all) brought college basketball into the era in which we currently reside. Not only was Michigan the first team to start five freshman (who also happened to be African American), but these guys were the ones that (thank god) rejected Daisy Dukes on athletes and originated the baggy shorts we've all come to know and love, they rocked black socks and black basketball shoes, they warmed up to rap music, (if this is sounding familiar it's because almost every college basketball team now does this).

As chronicled in one of my favorite books, Mitch Albom's Fab Five, the team ruffled feathers (upperclassmen teammates, alumni donors, the press, etc.) - but they brought game, which generally shuts critics up. In their freshman and sophomore season (before Chris Webber went pro), the team made it to the NCAA Tournment Championship game. Ok, ok they lost I know - but it was truly an electric time to be a Michigan basketball fan and/or live in Ann Arbor. You really couldn't take your eyes off these guys and their attitudes, their street-style of play, their trash talk, and again their shorts - which it's worth nothing UM made a small fortune selling to a nationwide fan base.

Of course the final chapter in this saga is the booster scandal that followed in which it was revealed that as a player at UM, Chris Webber received money and gifts from a Detroit area man who was loosely affiliated with the program. The Championship banners came down, Steve Fisher was effectively fired, UM was penalized, the Fab Five was literally erased from the books of the Michigan basketball program, and Chris Webber is persona non grata in Chrysler Arena.

But, to be horribly melodramatic, I would argue that the Fab Five were not erased from the hearts and minds of fans (especially with the embarassing 10 years the program has had since.) While some die hards might still have their panties in a bunch over the Fab Five booster scandal, Jalen Rose points out, "I see what (former Ohio State running back) Maurice Clarett was going through, and they didn't take their (championship) banner down. I see (former USC running back) Reggie Bush and what he's going through. And I see what (former UCLA basketball coach) Jim Harrick goes through, and I notice it's original and unique how our situation is handled." Right on.

These guys deserve to have a place in Michigan history, and I think it's sad that all that can be is a billboard in Detroit.

September 27, 2007

The city of Ann Arbor lost a legend last week. Second only to maybe Bo Shembechler, Shakey Jake Woods was an Ann Arbor institution - one of the city's best known residents.

Arriving on the scene in the early 70s (or so it's told), Shakey Jake roamed the streets with his guitar in white loafers and flare pants, a knee length coat and hat - the style of which appeared to never change as the years went by. When my family moved to Ann Arbor in 1990, I remember my favorite part of going downtown was "looking for Jake". Over the years, Jake branded himself and Shakey Jake t-shirts and "I Brake for Jake" bumper stickers started to appear... and they're still around today (joining Drake's Sandwich Shop shirts as one of the quintessential Ann Arbor native items). However, he lived on his social security checks and the kindness of local merchants who would purchase his stickers or give him some freebies here and there.

"Rest in peace? Are ye crazy - man's got work to do! He's got to keep watch over the old A-town. Keep those wings flappin' and those fingers strummin' over these weary streets. Don't leave us Jake. You will always be missed."

"He would take his coffee and set up on the corner, sometimes when it was still dark out and well before anyone else was up. One day I asked him why he was up so early. He said, 'I gots to do what I do. Ain't nobody else who can do what I do.'"

"Let Jake's message be a lesson to us all: Money means nothing. Life is a gift. You can spread happiness to thousands of people just by putting yourself out there, treating people like equals no matter who they are, sharing your heart and your spirit, playing the music of your soul, and being yourself."

What's cool about the website, and some of the videos of individuals sharing their favorite Jake moments is the variety of people who loved him. Old, young, black, white, residence and college students and everything in between - everyone that calls themselves an Ann Arborite. It's a good sized city, but people like Shakey Jake brought us all together in a small town way. RIP Jake!

September 09, 2007

My dearly beloved. We are gathered here today to remember the life of the 2007 Michigan Wolverines. Just a few weeks ago, the team seemed so healthy and strong - it was not a fool's dream to think that they would be with us for months to come. However, as so often happens, our hope blinded us to a dark and cold reality. Our opponents spread offenses, our own befuddled defense, and key players' injuries - oh my. Oh my, they have lead the team down a road from which they will not return. I ask our Lord and savior, Bo Schembechler, to watch over our boys as they ascend to the promised land. May we all find peace here on this cold earth in the promise of a clean Big 10 conference slate, and aggresive off season recruiting.

September 08, 2007

Now that I live in DC it's relatively easy for me to get home to Michigan on a regular basis - it's about a $120 ticket if you book a few weeks out and the flight is just a little over an hour. I can get door to door in about three hours with no delays.

So, I go home a lot. For parties, to see the fam and old friends, Michigan football games (or at least I did in the past...). People often ask my "Why". Well here is the answer, photodocumented.

I go home because it's easy and fun and even though I'm 26, there is a good chance I'll end up in a circle of my friends with malt liquor 40s and duct tape holding us all together.

(For the record, this joyous experience is commonly referred to as Edward 40 Hands, and that's Catch Up Brother and Catch Up Sister far right.)

Which area will be most critical for the Mountaineers in the Sept. 1 football opener at Michigan?A) ASU offense vs. U-M defenseB) ASU defense vs. U-M offenseC) Special Teams

"Most critical," as in what it will take for Appy State to win? Now, while I admire their moxie, let's me honest, folks,: none of those answers should make a difference. But,
this being the MZone, we've come up with some other poll answers which
they forgot to include that could actually turn the tide in ASU's
favor...

D) Entire U-M team oversleepsE) ASU has nude photos of Lloyd Carr and a group of young Asian boysF) Instead of practicing this week, U-M forced to watch ASU Hot! Hot! Hot! video 24/7G) The game is played in an alternate universe where U-M is a 1-AA team and ASU is winningest major college program of all timeH) Jim Herrrrmannnn returns to coach U-M defenseI) ASU comes out wearing OSU replica uniformsJ) Michigan fans forget to shake their keys thus negating the jet-like noise of the Michigan Stadium home field advantage.K) King Leonidas comes back from the dead to QB the Mountaineers

Bravo. Really, I could not have done that better myself. Go Blue! May God (and Bo) watch over us this season.

PS - If anyone wants to give me some OSU tickets that would be great. My boyfriend is operating under the delusion that we can somehow secure tickets to this game without selling our kidneys on the black market.

PPS - As if Appy needed another blow to their confidence, the bumbling Miss Teen South Carolina proudly announced on the Today Show that she will become a Mountaineer this fall.

June 08, 2007

First we had the blown out Dearborn cop who called 911 because he thought he overdosed on pot brownies ("I think we're dead!"). Now we have a 21 year-old wheelchair bound man who became lodged in the grille of a semi truck (unbeknownst to the driver) and was pushed for several miles at 50mph on the HIGHWAY. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!

Long story short, apparently Ben Carpenter was crossing the street in Paw Paw, Michigan when a semi came up behind him. The handles of his wheelchair became stuck in the grille of the truck and off he went, much to other motorists dismay. Luckily there were two undercover cops driving by who pulled over the truck driver. (I don't even want to know what undercover cops are doing in Paw Paw, whose village slogan is "A town so nice they named it twice"...). Carpenter, who was not injured was apparently relatively unphased and told a Grand Rapids radio station, "I was probably thinking that this is going to keep going and not stop anywhere, 50 or 60 miles somewhere."

May 17, 2007

I caught wind of this incident a few days ago as my friends know that I occasionally blog on Michigan topics of interest. I held back from posting it because of its drug related content, but after seeing this video I simply cannot NOT share it with the world.

May 10, 2007

Thanks to Where's My Jetpack for resurrecting this old Tipalet ad, which is.... pretty effing disgusting. That's right, the copy under the picture of a man blowing smoke into that woman's face says, "Blow in her face and she'll follow you anywhere." Either that or she'll knee you in the balls pal. I can't imagine that this ad sold a single pack of cigarettes. Ever.

Side note: I don't know if it's the combination of the brown cigarette and the white mouth piece...or the smoke in that chick's face...but this ad made me think of an interaction I had with my friend Charles at about 2am a few summers ago at Cottage Weekend, a Big Chill style reunion we have every year at his cottage in Michigan.

April 27, 2007

MarketingVox reports that ESPN has signed a content sharing agreement with the Ohio State fan site, Bucknuts.

The deal will have ESPN providing player information, news and video to
Bucknuts, while Bucknuts content will run on Ohio State-related ESPN
pages. Bucknuts premium members will also gain reciprocity with
ESPN and a magazine subscription. Evidently, this move is
indicative of mainstream sports sites attempts to harness "online fan
devotion."

Now I'm all for tapping into fan networks online, there are tons of
rabid fan bases - Red Sox Nation for one - but why did ESPN have to go
all scarlet and grey on us? While Buckeyes are always surprised
to hear this (and that really shocks me), they are widely regarded as
the worst behaved fans in the Big 10. Want some examples?

I personally know middle aged fans, sitting in the Michigan alum
section at OSU games, who have been pelted with projectiles
- programs, beers, you name it.

A friend of mine drove his car (with Michigan plates and a UM
decal) down to an OSU game and left it in a parking lot during the
game, when he returned the word's "Lloyd's Car" was were spray painted
on the side.

You can buy onesies and bibs for INFANTS that say "Fuck Michigan."

UM officials sent a letter to students before last year's game in Columbus informing (among other things):

Try carpooling to the game; if possible, drive a car with non- Michigan license plates.

Keep your Michigan gear to a minimum, or wait until you are inside the stadium to display it.

Stay with a group.

Stay low-key; don't draw unnecessary attention to yourself.

If verbally harassed by opposing fans, don't take the bait.

Avoid High Street in Columbus.

If at any time you feel unsafe, you should call 9-1-1 for
assistance. U-M campus police also will be available in Columbus to
support our fans.

No, that's not a US Travel Advisory, it's for people venturing to Ohio. (And to you skeptics, one blog commenter on The M Zone sums it up posting, "Seriously, it is that bad and it's not like that everywhere else.")

Anyway, I could go on forever, but I think you get my point.
Congratulations ESPN! You wanted a rabid fan base, and you got
the douche-iest one in the nation.

April 20, 2007

Been awhile since I had a Michigan post, but my interaction with midwestern hair styles in the last 60 minutes just embodies what's so great about the D.

I got off the plane and the first thing I saw when I entered the airport was a slightly overweight woman in sweat pants rocking the FIERCEST she-mullet I may have ever seen. People, we're talking ALL business in the front, and an aggressive party in the back.

Then I got in my brother's car and we flipped to 97.9 (your home for the best bad R&B in the 313) and the dj's were taking calls from people nominating their loved ones for an intervention. Some girl was calling to nominate her stepmom because of her awful weave, and came to the conclusion that she uses hand-me down extensions.

Seriously, I love this place! I've got to go because my Little Caesars pizza is just moments away...